6-Day Best Tanzania Budget Safari & Materuni Waterfalls

After an early breakfast at around 8:00 am, you’ll head directly to Serengeti National Park via the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. You’ll stop at a scenic viewpoint with a pavilion offering a 180° view of the Ngorongoro Crater. Continuing around the crater and down the other side, enjoy the famously bumpy 'African massage' drive past traditional Maasai villages. Upon arriving at Naabi Hill Gate, stretch your legs at the viewpoint overlooking Serengeti’s vast plains. A hot bush lunch will be provided either at the gate or en route deeper into the park. You’ll continue your game drive across the Serengeti until evening, then head to your campsite for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast around 8:00 am or as preferred, you will embark on a full-day game drive in Serengeti National Park. The park offers exceptional wildlife sightings, including the Big Five—lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard. You’ll also see cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes, hippos, wildebeests, zebras, and more. Lunch will be served at a scenic picnic spot inside the park around 12:30 pm, accompanied by soft drinks and unlimited drinking water. The exploration continues throughout the afternoon until you return to your campsite in the evening for dinner and rest.

Today you’ll leave early after breakfast for a game drive en route to Ngorongoro Crater. This World Heritage Site is one of the most beautiful and wildlife-rich destinations in East Africa. On reaching the crater rim, the vast 20 km-wide caldera will open up before you. You’ll descend into the crater using a steep trail and enjoy game viewing among over 25,000 animals, including numerous bird species, hyenas, and the endangered black rhino. Lunch will be served at the hippo pool picnic site. After exploring the crater floor, you’ll ascend and head straight to your accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast at your lodge, drive to Lake Manyara National Park, famously known for its tree-climbing lions and exceptional birdlife. With over 500 bird species recorded, even first-time visitors may spot around 100 species in a single day. Inland from the lake, a narrow strip of acacia forest is favored by Manyara’s tree-climbing lions and large-tusked elephants. The park is also home to giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, buffaloes, hippos, and hyenas. Enjoy lunch inside the park and continue your game viewing before returning to Arusha for dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast, drive for about two hours to Materuni Village, nestled in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. Upon arrival, you’ll take a guided walk to the picturesque Materuni Waterfalls, surrounded by lush greenery. A delicious local buffet lunch will be served. Later, you’ll learn about the region’s Chagga culture and take part in a hands-on traditional coffee-making experience. Afterward, transfer to Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport, marking the end of your safari adventure.